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Posts in Spotlight
Getting to know Dr. Verghese
August 10, 2018
Since 2002, Dr. Verghese , a board-certified pulmonologist has helped residents of Central Virginia stay healthy and breathe easy. Since high school, he's known he wanted to combine his interest in science and helping people. Sticking close to his North Carolina roots, he attended Duke University, first as an engineering student and then transitioning into medicine. When it came time to choose a specialty, Dr. Verghese landed on pulmonology – a field that treats diseases in the respiratory system. "I like pulmonology because it encompasses a little bit of everything – people of different ages...Continue Reading
Get to know Dr. Stephen Carter
July 10, 2018
The first thing you may notice when speaking with Dr. Carter is his upbeat attitude and obvious passion for his work. A Southern California native, he grew up in San Diego against the backdrop of clear skies and sunny beaches. Number three of four boys, he comes from a long line of medical practitioners. In fact, all four of the Carter brothers are surgeons now. Rewind to Dr. Carter's early days though, and you'd find a young man with a different career path in mind. An avid musician, Dr. Carter spent much of his time growing up playing the piano, writing music, and performing in bands. A...Continue Reading
March 2018 DAISY Award Winner
April 4, 2018
Congratulations to Augusta Health’s March DAISY Award winner, Hayley Fix!!! My husband had a colon resection on Friday morning and Hayley was his nurse. He had been in a great deal of pain and she cared enough to check with the on-call doctor to see if there was something else that could be done. I had gone to get a bite to eat and when I came back I found my husband much better, joking like normal. I was very impressed by how she always spoke to him using our last name. She was very respectful. Fast forward to Saturday night. I had been staying in the room with my husband. I suffer with...Continue Reading
Congratulations October 2017 DAISY Award winners!
November 3, 2017
On October 24, 2017, four nurses from the Inpatient Surgical Unit were presented with the DAISY Award: Laura Shifflett, Emylee Protil, Christian Darragh, and Beth Hall. All four were involved in the care of one patient who, along with his family, called them "The Dream Team." Emylee Protil is the star of the Dream Team. Emylee's assessment skills and urgency in alerting the on-call surgeon enabled the patient to receive emergent surgery. Additionally, Emylee's happy, friendly, and caring personality made her a favorite of the patient and his family. She made them comfortable with her words,...Continue Reading
Always Changing and Improving
May 11, 2017
Kaizen. It's a Japanese word that means 'good change' or 'change for the better'. It's more than a word, though; it's a philosophy that embraces focusing on continuous improvement that will make work and life better. For Amy Hougan, MSN, RN, CNL, the Kaizen Facilitator at Augusta Health, the philosophy is one she has taken personally as well as professionally. Amy began her career working in Quantitative Business Analysis, with a bachelor's degree in business. After several years of working, she felt a calling to help others and returned to school to become a Registered Nurse. She joined...Continue Reading
The Team Behind The Technology
May 9, 2017
Last June, the Augusta Health Board of Directors—fifteen local representatives from Staunton, Augusta County and Waynesboro—voted to expand the surgical options for patients at Augusta Health with the addition of a da Vinci Xi Surgical System. This decision would provide the community with the latest and most advanced robotic technology available. By the end of October, the first robotic surgery at Augusta Health was performed by urologist Brian Stisser, MD. By the end of February, the Robotic Surgery Program had expanded it service to include urology, colorectal, gynecology and general...Continue Reading
In Synch with Helping Others: Joint Center Volunteer Andy Norris
April 21, 2017
For the past two years, Andy Norris, a "retired" pharmacist who works full-time, has spent every other Wednesday at Augusta Health's Joint Center. His joints are doing OK; he's there for another reason. Andy is a volunteer, working side-by-side with the therapy staff to help patients with the exercises that will get them back to living full lives as quickly as possible. Andy works regularly with Judy Knick, PTA; Michelle Cupp, PTA; and Brad Gray, Physical Therapy Technician. He is considered part of the team, and the team is a well-oiled machine. In group therapy, as the patients progress...Continue Reading
Celebrating Excellence in Nursing at Augusta Health
April 4, 2017
Augusta Health celebrated Nursing Excellence Day, an educational and recognition day for outstanding achievements in nursing on March 24, 2017. This year, more than 30 Poster Presentations on various research, process improvement projects and new programs developed by Augusta Health nurses were displayed. The annual Nurse Innovator awards were presented, and the 2016 Clinical Ladder participants and DAISY Award winners were recognized. "All of our nurses at Augusta Health strive to provide excellent care every day to every patient," said Marvella Rea, MSN, RN CNML, Vice President and Chief...Continue Reading
Getting to Know Dr. Tom Pereles
February 21, 2017
Shortly before our interview is set to begin I receive a call. An urgent, unplanned surgery has just come up and Dr. Pereles has asked if we can push back our meeting 30 minutes. I tell Dr. Pereles, who insists I call him Tom, that won't be a problem. For Tom, this is just another day at Augusta Health. Tom spent his early days as a child growing up in the Maryland suburbs outside of our nation's capital where he attended public schools. He graduated from Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, MD before going off to study at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia where he received...Continue Reading
Nathan Hall, RN is presented with the DAISY Award
January 20, 2017
Nathan Hall, RN was presented with the DAISY Award on January 12th. Nathan was nominated for this award by a co-worker. Here is what she had to say about Nathan.Continue Reading